Friday, 16 December 2016

We are delighted to inform you that we have now confirmed the Leadership Team for the Learning Federation. Last Friday the Governing Board interviewed Mr Drakes, Mrs Nicholls and Mrs Smith. Following their presentations and discussions about the future for our two schools and Federation the Governors unanimously appointed all three to their posts on a permanent basis. Mr Drakes will take overall strategic responsibility for the Learning Federation as Executive Headteacher. Mrs Nicholls is now the permanent Headteacher for Broadford and is responsible for all aspects of day to day leadership: staffing, pupils, behaviour and communication with parents and members of the local community. Likewise Mrs Smith is now confirmed as the permanent Headteacher at Mead. At both schools we also have Assistant Headteachers with specific areas of responsibility both at their ‘home’ school and across the Federation:

Mrs Joanne Stanley (Broadford) - AHT Professional Development & Director of the Teaching School

Mrs Jane Wallis (Broadford) - AHT Curriculum Development

Miss Anna Calitz (Mead) - AHT Inclusion SEN/More Able

Mrs Alison Pidgeon (Mead) - AHT Outdoor Learning & Read Write Inc

I would like to thank you for all the patience and understanding that you have shown during a time of considerable change. We have had a very positive start to our life as a Federation. This Summer we saw outstanding results at KS2 for all of our pupils across both schools. In October Mead restored its Ofsted grading to Good - in fact the report was so positive that much of it read as if it were well on the way to Outstanding. Our pupils have seen the Federation community grow much closer through shared teaching, joint trips, Federation sports teams - allowing us to finish 3rd in the recent indoor athletics tournament - and joint enrichment activities: London Symphony Orchestra, Primary Proms & cycling. It has been fantastic to see so you coming to support your children at the recent events and celebrate their achievements through the social media footage and posts. You have significantly contributed towards strengthening what is a very positive, child led ethos. Thank you.As we close out the year we can be certain that 2017 will continue to see our new Federation go from strength to strength for the benefit of all our pupils - your children.

There will be Festive Parties for children in years 1-6 on Tuesday 20th December. You won’t need to send in party clothes or food. The pupils will stay in school uniform but they are very welcome to bring in a festive sweater (and headwear if you have it) to wear for the afternoon. We will also provide all the food for them too.

Sunday, 11 December 2016

Holly, Georgia and Jessica Chilvers have been really busy lately. The have been designing, making and selling Christmas decorations to raise money for charity. These creative ladies have been selling their snowman to raise money for McMillian Cancer Support and so far the total is over £200 and rising.

We finish school at 3.15pm on Wednesday 21st December. There are no clubs week beginning Monday 12th December, so all pupils should be picked up promptly by 3.15pm. School opens again on Tuesday 3rd January – Breakfast Club at 7.45am – with the doors opening at 8.30am.

These are the key skills that our children will need to learn effectively in class and to be successful later in life.

Being able to show that you can make links between ideas and showing imagination demonstrates resourcefulness. These pupils have been awarded their resourcefulness certificate this week. Temira Hascar, Oliver Stay, Archie-Patrick Stuart and Abbie Sullivan.

These are the key skills that our children will need to learn effectively in class and to be successful later in life.

These children have shown that they can manage distraction, notice patterns and become absorbed in their tasks – well done for your Resilience certificate: Maisie Clarke, Leah Sharpe, Emma Bloy and Gracee-May Coble.

Well done to all of these children who have presented their work beautifully; Leanne Royer, Daniel Tonu, Weronika Harandi, Sofia Raif, Conner Holloway, Aaliyah Yasrin, Daniel Kalusha, Nikola Urban, Finley Redmond and Ijeoma Ezeogu and Connor Robinson.

As clubs finished on Friday 9th December all pupils will be dismissed and collected at the end of the day until the end of term. This will mean that there are more children than usual to dismiss and more parents collecting. I am sure you will appreciate that we want to ensure that all pupils are dismissed from school safely. To this end can I remind all parents/carers of end of day arrangements from Monday 12th December. The KS1 door will be opened from 3.00 pm for adults collecting Reception pupils only. Please only enter the door at this time if you are collecting a child from a Reception class. This will ensure that there is enough space for parents to pick up our smallest pupils in a safe way. Then at 3.10 adults will be invited in through the KS1 door to collect pupils from any other year group. All pupils and adults continue to follow the one way system and exit through the side door.

We said goodbye to Mrs Griffin-Stenning on Friday. We would like to thank her for everything she has contributed to Broadford and all of the support she has given to staff, pupils and our families. I am sure you will join me in wishing Mrs Griffin-Stenning all the very best as she takes up a new post at a secondary school within the borough.

If your child would like to have a Christmas Dinner please ensure that you have purchased a dinner ticket before Thursday 15th. Dinner tickets are available to purchase from the side door on Monday 12th and Wednesday 14th. Christmas lunch for the pupils costs £2.20 ( if applicable).

Tuesday, 6 December 2016

We are delighted to inform you that our JTAs (Junior Travel Ambassadors) have been chosen to take over the Havering 'Taking Steps' magazine for the latest edition.

Taking Steps magazine promotes safer travel by bicycle, public transport or on foot, and is edited by students from the borough's schools. Produced twice a year each edition includes interviews, tips and advice, features, local news, puzzles and competitions.

While we have been JTAs we have had lots of chances to interview councillors, launch campaigns for Road Safety and inform our classmates. This chance to edit the magazine meant we could share everything we have been doing!

Kieran Dash - Year 6

Thanks to the initiatives run by our JTA team we have seen cycle and scooter use increase by 18%! The number of pupils walking to school has also increased by 13%... a tremendous impact!